The build up

Often the big changes of the Christmas period can have a negative effect on a child with Autism. The change in routine and structure at home and in school often mean they cannot plan and prepare.

Ideas to help with the build up

A visual timetable

Get help from school with planning and using visual timetables.

Have daily chats about Christmas and write on the calendar or visual timetable who is visiting and when. Make sure you prepare for all family visits and ensure the family understand how unexpected visits can have a detrimental effect on those with autism.

Decorations at Christmas can completely change the environment, and can be over stimulating for children with visual processing difficulties. Increase the amount of decorations gradually, or have the decorations in a room that your child with Autism does not access as much to reduce their exposure to these

Gift Ideas

Sensory based toys; these could include:

Create a fidget bag within their Christmas stocking, filling it with loads of tactile squashing and stretching toys. This will help focus their attention and reduce the impact of the other distractions going on around them. It might also be a good way of keeping them occupied while other people open their present.

Here is a list of possible suppliers for Sensory toys (This list is not exhaustive)